Dramatic slump in support for Fine Gael in polls with days to go before General Election

Support for Fine Gael has slumped by six percentage points with days to go before the General Election, according to the latest poll.

Taoiseach Simon Harris’s party now trails both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A survey indicates.

Fianna Fáil leads the way on 21 per cent – up two points on the last poll two weeks ago. Sinn Fein stands on 20 per cent – up one – while Fine Gael is on 19 per cent – down six points since the November 14 poll. Ireland goes to the polls on Friday.

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The latest poll comes after Mr Harris apologised over the weekend after facing criticism for his handling of an encounter with a disability care worker while canvassing in Kanturk in Co Cork on Friday.

Several incidents have put Fine Gael under pressure during the election campaign, including comments made by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary about teachers in the first few days. Mr O’Leary was criticised for saying at a Fine Gael candidate launch that he would not hire teachers to “get things done”, which drew laughs and cheers from the gathered party faithful.

There has also been a furore over whether senator John McGahon should have been selected as a Fine Gael candidate for the Louth constituency. Mr McGahon was found not guilty of assaulting a man outside a Dundalk nightclub in a criminal case two years ago but a High Court civil action earlier this year found him liable, with the politician ordered to pay damages.

With regard to the smaller parties, the poll has the Greens on 4 per cent – up one; Labour on 4 per cent – down one; Social Democrats on 6 per cent – up two; People Before Profit on 3 per cent – up one; and Aontú on 3 per cent – no change. Independents (including the Independent Ireland party) are on 17 per cent – down three percentage points.

In terms of personal favourability, Mr Harris’s popularity is down from 50 per cent to 46 per cent, while Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin is on 44 per cent – down one point. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is unchanged on 31 per cent.

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